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Monday, January 27, 2014

THOR, THE POPE & HOBBY LOBBY

The tweet that Hobby Lobby paid for me to see

You meet such fascinating people on the internet.

On Saturday night, I had a very interesting conversation on Twitter with a representative of Hobby Lobby. It started when a "promoted" (paid for) tweet by @HobbyLobbyCase appeared in the feed for @NorseMythNews, my Norse Mythology Twitter account.

@HobbyLobbyCase is "Hobby Lobby's official Twitter account for information and updates on the Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby United States Supreme Court case." I had never previously imagined that a litigant in a case before the Supreme Court would take the step of setting up a Twitter account specifically to sway public opinion before presenting their case to the highest judges in the land. We live in strange times.

The case centers on the assertion by the owners of Hobby Lobby that their Evangelical Christian beliefs give them the right to decide which types of birth control their female employees can receive through their employer-provided health plans. The Affordable Care Act requires that all insurance plans cover preventative care, including all forms of contraception. All businesses with more than fifty employees must provide insurance that fulfills the law's requirements.

Hobby Lobby's owners argue that their religious beliefs exempt them from following the law. They assert that allowing their employees access to legally mandated plans providing what the owners call "abortifacients" would violate the owners' Christian beliefs regarding reproduction – even if the employees in question do not hold such religious beliefs themselves. You can read more about the specifics of the case by clicking here.

Sign put up by members of the National Organization
for Women during a protest of Hobby Lobby's policies
Photograph by Kile Brewer

Hobby Lobby has decided to market this case as an instance of the government trampling the religious freedom of its owners. This is a bit strange, given that the owners are citing their religious beliefs as grounds for restricting the legal rights of their employees. The religious views of the female employees themselves – and their own beliefs regarding reproductive rights – seem to be of absolutely no concern to the owners.

Even stranger is that the Evangelical Christian owners of Hobby Lobby would quote the pope to bolster their argument. It seems that Pope Francis' marketing team has been so successful in selling the new pontiff that even Evangelicals are embracing his teachings. Everyone from religion journalists to lawyers have been rushing to create colorful photo-memes emblazoned with his declarations.

Strangest of all is the fact that the Supreme Court would hear this argument, since they already handed down a clear ruling on this issue back in 1990. In a 2012 article, I wrote about the earlier case in relation to President Obama's willingness to give Catholic organizations exemption from the Affordable Care Act's assertion of reproductive rights:

Liberty and fairness for all Americans, however, doesn't include followers of minority religious groups that lack financial and political clout. The 1990 Supreme Court decision in Employment Division, Department of Human Resources of Oregon v. Smith ruled that religious beliefs do not free individuals from complying with local or federal law. Members of the Native American Church were told that the state law forbidding use of peyote trumped Indian ritual use of the plant – a religious practice that predates the formation of the United States itself.

Judge Antonin Scalia’s majority opinion declared that religious beliefs do not provide immunity from the law. "To permit this," he wrote, "would be to make the professed doctrines of religious belief superior to the law of the land, and in effect to permit every citizen to become a law unto himself."

In 2012, I suggested that there was one law for minority faith groups like the Native American Church and another for large, monied religious organizations like the Catholic Church. In 2014, business owners with ties to Evangelical Christianity are brazenly asserting that their personal religious beliefs trump federal law and that the decision against the Native American Church doesn't apply to them.

Is there really equal access for all?

I hope that the Supreme Court will remain consistent and give the same answer to Evangelical Christians that it gave to members of the Native American Church. If it finds in favor of Hobby Lobby, it will be broadcasting a clear confirmation that majority faiths have more rights and privileges than minority religions. That would be a dark day for everyone, but especially for those of us who belong to minority faiths.

What follows is the full text of my public Twitter conversation with Hobby Lobby's official representative. For ease of reading, I have expanded the abbreviations in my own comments that were required by Twitter's 140-character post limit. When necessary, I have also included explanations in [square brackets].

KS – Or you could tweet, "Hobby Lobby believes that Thor's followers be exempt from any tax paid to non-heathen administrations."

HL – [no reply]

KS – Or, "Hobby Lobby defends right of Odin's followers to be publicly intoxicated while drinking sacred mead in public areas."

HL – [no reply]

_______________________________________________________

The spokesperson for Hobby Lobby went off to argue with other Twitterers at this point. I think it's pretty clear what his reaction was when asked to take a public stand on religious freedom for those other than Christians.

It really gives the lie to Hobby Lobby's claim to be fighting for the right of the individual to practice her religion free from government interference, doesn't it? Then again, that's not what this case has ever really been about.

My final Twitter comments were admittedly preposterous, but so is the idea that the religious beliefs of Hobby Lobby's owners give them a right to disobey whatever law they feel like. If the followers of Christ receive a free pass, so should the followers of Thor (and every other deity). Is the Supreme Court willing to put that in writing?

I woke up this morning with the words of the leaders of Iceland's state-recognized heathen church ringing in my ears. The members of the Ásatrúarfélagið (“Æsir Faith Fellowship”) practice Ásatrú, the modern iteration of the Old Norse religion of Odin, Thor, Freya and the other gods and goddesses.

When I interviewed her in 2010, Jóhanna G. Harðardóttir explained to me the connotations of the word heiðinn – the Icelandic equivalent of the English word heathen, which is the most common self-identifier for followers of Ásatrú:

Heiðinn, that’s the word that we use. It is the same as heiður, which means clear. We say, “Heiður himinn” - the sky is clear. You should keep a clear head. Don’t let anybody tell you what to do, don’t let anybody rule you. Think, yourself. That’s it.

When I interviewed Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson the same year, he said something so pithy that it deserved to be made into a pope-style meme:

These Icelandic heathens place great emphasis on clear thinking, freedom of thought, and the right of the individual to determine her own truths. Their ideas seem much more filled with the Spirit of America than do the ideas of the Hobby Lobbyists, centered as they are on the assertion that their religious ideas must be forced upon others in the secular sphere. Hobby Lobby's insistence that religious law trumps secular law seems awfully like an embrace of the principles of sharia law – the great bugaboo of America's religious right.

The Evangelical Christian owners of Hobby Lobby are attempting to redefine "religious freedom" to mean "using a position of financial power to force one's religious beliefs upon those outside one's own faith tradition." Maybe it's time for American heathens to step up and provide a different perspective – one that actually embraces the ideals of freedom that the Hobby Lobbyists are twisting to suit their own agenda.

I tried to engage other self- proclaimed heathens in a Facebook group in a discussion of why majority religious beliefs can be dangerous to members of minority religions. While I had no expectations of complete agreement, I was stunned and disheartened at how many people were adamant that part of their belief system was in not caring what anyone else believes.

The gist was that heathens should mind their own hearth and kindred, and that it is some kind of reverse discrimination to concern oneself with even the negative aspects of majority religions' political actions.

Personally, I think it is very important for HOPI (Heathens of Positive Intent) to engage those of other faiths in public discussion. I believe that we deserve a seat at the interfaith table – not to promote our own tradition or to gain converts, but because we have a unique perspective that can only enrich public discourse.

However, I understand heathens who decide to not engage in this sort of cross-tradition discussion. If you have been excluded, ignored or vilified for long enough, it is only to be expected that you would turn your back on those who turn their back on you.

I would encourage you to follow your heart. If you contact me through the Ask a Norse Mythologist tab, I would be happy to continue this discussion via email.

I used to be an evangelical Christian, but back in the 1980s with the rise of the Religious Right I could no longer in good conscience be party to religious bullying, so I left. Businesses cannot use religion to trump the legal rights of women (a noted non-minority historical victim). If Hobby Lobby wins the case, I will start a religion that refuses to recognize straight Christian couples and I will sue anyone who tramples on my beliefs. Two can play at that game.

You did a great job of defending your case. May Thor watch over you and protect you from the evil zombie worshippers.

IMNSHO, I think that Asatru is given a bum rap because of the belief in the Gods, and I defend it whenever I csn. Mind you, I am Roman Catholic and I believe that. I have even defended it as a caller on a National morning radio show, and ended up with the same reaction you received sir, dead silence. That's not fair, not in the least bit.

I dont care what anyone else believes, so long as their beliefs are not harming others or hindering the beliefs of others. It's a much larger world these days than it used to be, and like it or not, we all have to learn how to get along.

Karl wrote all of the Ásatrú definitions in the Religion Newswriters Association's Religion Stylebook and has been featured as a writer and lecturer on mythology and religion by On Religion Magazine (UK), Interfaith Ramadan (Italy), Joseph Campbell Foundation, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Wagner Society of America and Wheaton College.

A member of the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study, Tolkien Society (UK), Viking Society for Northern Research (UK) and Religion Newswriters Association, he's also the Official Norse Mythologist of the Stephanie Miller Show.

Karl holds degrees in literature and music from University of California at San Diego, University of Wisconsin at Madison and University of Texas at Austin. He also studied literature and art history at Loyola University Chicago Rome Center in Italy. He recently received an academic scholarship from University of Chicago Divinity School and is now working on an MA in Religion.

REVIEWS OF THE NORSE MYTHOLOGY BLOG

Chicago Public Radio: "[Karl's] one of the country’s most respected researchers and lecturers on Norse mythology."Chicago Humanities Festival: "Seigfried is a prolific chronicler of the world of Norse mythology."Johan Hegg (Amon Amarth): "[Karl's] probably a better Guardian of Asgard than I am."Jóhanna G. Harðardóttir (Ásatrúarfélagið): "Hér er rétti maðurinn á ferð til að kenna Norræna goðafræði í US."Syracuse University iSchool: "This is an entertaining and enlightening blog to follow for anyone interested in Norse mythology."Weaving Wyrd: "His questions are thought-provoking, and his scholarly bona fides are pretty impressive."Bob Freeman: "Best Esoteric Website 2013: For anyone with an interest in Norse culture, myth, and magic, there is no better place to visit on the web."Carthage News: "His would be considered a David-and-Goliath story, except Carthage professor Karl Seigfried topped the writers who discuss those kinds of biblical figures."The Wild Hunt: "If you aren’t already reading Dr. Karl E. H. Seigfried's amazing The Norse Mythology Blog, then you've been remiss. The blog is one of the most content-rich affairs for lovers of Norse mythology I’ve ever seen."Tales of a GM: "This is an amazing resource for anyone interested in the history and culture of Northern Europe. The Norse Mythology Blog is such a brilliant combination of modern issues and ancient sources. If you have any interest in Norse culture or mythology, then you must visit Dr Seigfried’s site."Vancouver Sun: "The best blog on faith and spirituality may be one about a so-called ‘dead’ religion, Norse mythology. The Norse Mythology Blog reflects deep knowledge of this ancient religion, along with an affable spirit. [Karl] knows everything one would ever want to know about Thor, Odin, Frey, Loki, Frigg, Freya and countless more Norse gods, goddesses and mythological hangers-on."City Magazine (Serbia): "Ako vas je ikada makar malo zainteresovala istorija i kultura severne Evrope, a naročito njena istorija, ovde ćete naći mnogo više interesantnog štiva nego što biste se ikada nadali. Posebno je interesantno da uspeva da poveže savremene momente sa prastarim izvorima."